The US Navy is soon to launch the latest in high-tech weaponry - an electromagnetic railgun that can fire projectiles at an astonishing 4,500 miles (7,250km) per hour.

But until then we will have to make do with this homemade version of the 'Star Wars'-style weapon, made by an American YouTuber.

His 250lb mobile railgun, powered by a gigantic bank of capacitors laid out in the back of the inventor's car, is capable of firing with a staggering 27,000 joules of force.

US YouTuber Ziggy Zee has made a 250lb mobile railgun (pictured) powered by batteries in the back of his car that is capable of firing aluminum projectiles through vegetables, mobile phones and into car doors

To put this into perspective, for a weapon to classified as a firearm in the UK it only needs to produce a minimum of 8 joules.

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A railgun is a device that accelerates a conductive projectile using extremely high current and electromagnetism. There is no need for explosive powder and instead it is powered by batteries.

The DIY weapon maker, known as Ziggy Zee, used a total of 56, 480-joule 6000 microfarad capacitors driven by a 400-volt power source - his car battery.

When the trigger is pulled, a blast of CO2 accelerates the projectile to approximately 50mph (81km).

HOW THE DIY 'RAILGUN' WORKS

The DIY weapon maker, known as Ziggy Zee, used a total of 56, 480-joule 6000 microfarad capacitors driven by a 400-volt power source.

When the trigger is pulled, a blast of CO2 accelerates the projectile to approximately 50mph (81km).

The aluminum projectile then enters two parallel, copper rails.

After contact, the aluminum melts and provides a form of lubricant.

An electrical current then flows through the device to produce an outward force in all directions, similar to how water flows through a bent rubber hose.

Because the rails are held firm, the projectile experiences a forward force and is fired from the gun.

Source: Ziggy Zee

The aluminum projectile then enters two parallel, copper rails.

After contact, the aluminum melts and provides a form of lubricant.

An electrical current then flow's through the device to produce an outward force in all directions, similar to how water flows through a bent rubber hose.

Because the rails are held firm, the projectile experiences a forward force and is fired from the gun.

The weapon has been two years in the making and Zee has uploaded videos of the past 12 firing tests on an imgur site, which also demonstrates the building process.

Earlier this year, the US Navy unveiled a radical new weapon that can fire a shell at mach three/

The new guided rounds were originally designed as part of the Navy's railgun project, which will fire them at mach 5 - but is not expected to be available until 2025.

However, Navy bosses now believe they can adapt the projectiles to be fired through normal guns - albeit at a slower Mach 3 speed.

Naval Sea Systems Command are now in early testing phases of using the planned hyper velocity projectile (HVPs) with the service's existing gunpowder-based deck guns found on almost every U.S. Navy surface ship.

A railgun is a device that accelerates a conductive projectile using extremely high current and electromagnetism.The DIY weapon maker, known as Ziggy Zee, used a total of 56, 480-joule 6000 microfarad capacitors driven by a 400-volt power source - his car battery

When the trigger is pulled, a blast of CO2 accelerates the projectile to approximately 50mph (81km). The aluminum projectile then enters two parallel, copper rails. After contact, the aluminum melts and provides a form of lubricant (the connectors of the railgun are pictured)

The new projectiles will be more than double the speed of an unguided regular shell from the service's Mk 45 five-inch gun found on its guided missile cruisers and destroyers, according to information from NAVSEA.

Navy bosses hope that by using existing guns, they can bring the weapons online far sooner.

According to Navsea, the service is also investigating using HVP in larger guns than the MK 45.

A BAE Systems designed railgun will undergo a first round of at-sea testing next year.

In Star Wars, the Dug rail gun (illustrated) was used at the Battle of Malastare during the Clone Wars

An electrical current then flows through the device to produce an outward force in all directions, similar to how water flows through a bent rubber hose. Because the rails are held firm, the projectile experiences a forward force and is fired from the gun

The weapon (pictured) has been two years in the making and Zee has uploaded videos of the past 12 firing tests on an imgur site, which also demonstrates the building process

US NAVY 'STAR WARS' WEAPON CAN FIRE MISSILES AT THREE TIMES THE SPEED OF SOUND

A radical new weapon that can fire a shell at mach three and use existing warship guns is believed developed by the US Navy.

The new guided rounds were originally designed as part of the Navy's railgun project, which will fire them at mach 5 - but is not expected to be available until 2025.

However, Navy bosses now believe they can adapt the projectiles to be fired through normal guns - albeit at a slower Mach 3 speed.

The hyper velocity projectile uses speed rather than explosives to destroy its target and comes equipped with the menacing Latin motto 'I, who am speed, eradicate'

Naval Sea Systems Command are now in early testing phases of using the planned hyper velocity projectile (HVPs) with the service's existing gunpowder-based deck guns found on almost every U.S. Navy surface ship, Navsea toldUSNI News.

The new projectiles will be more than double the speed of an unguided regular shell from the service's Mk 45 five-inch gun found on its guided missile cruisers and destroyers, according to information from Navsea.

Navy bosses hope that by using existing guns, they can bring the weapons online far sooner.

According to Navsea, the service is also investigating using HVP in larger guns than the MK 45.

'The round is being designed to be compatible with multiple guns in the U.S. inventory,' read the Navsea statement to USNI News.

Both BAE Systems and General Atomics have worked with the service on railgun and projectile technology, though Navsea did not specify any companies working on the effort.

'This is a government-led effort, and we are working to involve a number of different defense contractors at this stage,' Navsea said.

A BAE Systems designed railgun will undergo a first round of at-sea testing next year.

Warships can carry dozens of conventional missiles, which cost around £600,000 each, but could be loaded with hundreds of railgun projectiles, at only £15,000 each.

The projectiles, Hyper Velocity Projectiles, are also under development by BAE.